John Stockton, Adam Morrison, 60 ex-Bulldogs on hand to support Gonzaga

Author:
WXIA Staff

Published:
8:36 PM EDT April 3, 2017

Updated:
8:36 PM EDT April 3, 2017

GLENDALE, Ariz. — John Stockton, Adam Morrison and Ronny Turiaf were among about 60 former Gonzaga basketball players here Monday night to watch the Bulldogs play North Carolina in the NCAA championship game, said Dan Dickau, another former Gonzaga star who relayed to USA TODAY Sports One Shining Moment material.

At the end of Gonzaga's film session Friday night — the night before the Gonzaga beat South Carolina in the semifinals — the former Gonzaga players walked into the room single file, according to Dickau.

“It was pretty cool because the current team, they stood up and we’re giving us former Zags a standing ovation,’’ said Dickau, who played point guard at Gonzaga from 2000 to 2002. “Some of us walked out of there saying, ‘Why the heck are they giving us a standing ovation? We should be the ones giving them the standing ovation.’

“They’re the ones who finally broke through that proverbial ceiling and got to the Final Four, which is what everybody’s dream and goal and hopes have been for this program.’’

Dickau said most of the former Gonzaga players would be sitting in the same section at University of Phoenix Stadium and there is a sense of pride.

“We feel like we were the foundation that laid a lot of bricks to get it here,’’ he said. “Many of the teams before this year’s team, we felt like they had chances in their own way. But we weren’t able to get it done, so we’re real excited to see where Gonzaga is tonight and really happy for these kids.’’